The social cognitive and neural mechanisms that underlie social functioning in individuals with schizophrenia – a review
Abstract In many individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia social functioning is impaired across the lifespan. Social cognition has emerged as one of the possible factors that may contribute to these challenges. Neuroimaging research can give further insights into the underlying mechanisms of so...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Publishing Group
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Translational Psychiatry |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-023-02593-1 |
| _version_ | 1797556266076209152 |
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| author | Imke Lemmers-Jansen Eva Velthorst Anne-Kathrin Fett |
| author_facet | Imke Lemmers-Jansen Eva Velthorst Anne-Kathrin Fett |
| author_sort | Imke Lemmers-Jansen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In many individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia social functioning is impaired across the lifespan. Social cognition has emerged as one of the possible factors that may contribute to these challenges. Neuroimaging research can give further insights into the underlying mechanisms of social (cognitive) difficulties. This review summarises the evidence on the associations between social cognition in the domains of theory of mind and emotion perception and processing, and individuals’ social functioning and social skills, as well as associated neural mechanisms. Eighteen behavioural studies were conducted since the last major review and meta-analysis in the field (inclusion between 7/2017 and 1/2022). No major review has investigated the link between the neural mechanisms of social cognition and their association with social functioning in schizophrenia. Fourteen relevant studies were included (from 1/2000 to 1/2022). The findings of the behavioural studies showed that associations with social outcomes were slightly stronger for theory of mind than for emotion perception and processing. Moreover, performance in both social cognitive domains was more strongly associated with performance on social skill measures than questionnaire-based assessment of social functioning in the community. Studies on the underlying neural substrate of these associations presented mixed findings. In general, higher activation in various regions of the social brain was associated with better social functioning. The available evidence suggests some shared regions that might underlie the social cognition-social outcome link between different domains. However, due to the heterogeneity in approaches and findings, the current knowledge base will need to be expanded before firm conclusions can be drawn. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:00:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e947fd1ade04451c980ce8d36476e894 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2158-3188 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:00:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Translational Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-e947fd1ade04451c980ce8d36476e8942023-11-20T11:00:31ZengNature Publishing GroupTranslational Psychiatry2158-31882023-10-0113111710.1038/s41398-023-02593-1The social cognitive and neural mechanisms that underlie social functioning in individuals with schizophrenia – a reviewImke Lemmers-Jansen0Eva Velthorst1Anne-Kathrin Fett2Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Institute for Brain and Behaviour (iBBA) Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamGGZ Noord-Holland-NoordDepartment of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College LondonAbstract In many individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia social functioning is impaired across the lifespan. Social cognition has emerged as one of the possible factors that may contribute to these challenges. Neuroimaging research can give further insights into the underlying mechanisms of social (cognitive) difficulties. This review summarises the evidence on the associations between social cognition in the domains of theory of mind and emotion perception and processing, and individuals’ social functioning and social skills, as well as associated neural mechanisms. Eighteen behavioural studies were conducted since the last major review and meta-analysis in the field (inclusion between 7/2017 and 1/2022). No major review has investigated the link between the neural mechanisms of social cognition and their association with social functioning in schizophrenia. Fourteen relevant studies were included (from 1/2000 to 1/2022). The findings of the behavioural studies showed that associations with social outcomes were slightly stronger for theory of mind than for emotion perception and processing. Moreover, performance in both social cognitive domains was more strongly associated with performance on social skill measures than questionnaire-based assessment of social functioning in the community. Studies on the underlying neural substrate of these associations presented mixed findings. In general, higher activation in various regions of the social brain was associated with better social functioning. The available evidence suggests some shared regions that might underlie the social cognition-social outcome link between different domains. However, due to the heterogeneity in approaches and findings, the current knowledge base will need to be expanded before firm conclusions can be drawn.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-023-02593-1 |
| spellingShingle | Imke Lemmers-Jansen Eva Velthorst Anne-Kathrin Fett The social cognitive and neural mechanisms that underlie social functioning in individuals with schizophrenia – a review Translational Psychiatry |
| title | The social cognitive and neural mechanisms that underlie social functioning in individuals with schizophrenia – a review |
| title_full | The social cognitive and neural mechanisms that underlie social functioning in individuals with schizophrenia – a review |
| title_fullStr | The social cognitive and neural mechanisms that underlie social functioning in individuals with schizophrenia – a review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The social cognitive and neural mechanisms that underlie social functioning in individuals with schizophrenia – a review |
| title_short | The social cognitive and neural mechanisms that underlie social functioning in individuals with schizophrenia – a review |
| title_sort | social cognitive and neural mechanisms that underlie social functioning in individuals with schizophrenia a review |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-023-02593-1 |
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